LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 October 1925, Page 8

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

[Farmers along the Coast road say that th© kiwi is not dying out in th© Thames locality, Every night their cries are heard, and they are frequently Been in the vicinity of farmers’ homes.

“It would be a tremendous help to us in our national and international concerns if we could only start from bedrock as man to man/’ said Archbishop Averill last week. in returning thanks to the Auckland Rotary Chib for his election as its first honorary member. “It ie a need most essential in the world to-day,” he said, “and with all our artificial limitations the spirit of Rotary teaches us to know each other and meet each other as man to man.”

The government of Rotary in NewZealand is undergoing a change. Until now New Zealand has been under a special arrangement with the Rotary International, whose headquarters are at Chicago. On the 15 th of last month the Dominion came under the rules which provide for governance by districts. New Zealand is the fifty-third district in the Rotary International. Its first district governor, appointed at the recent convention in Cleveland, is Dr. Herbert, of Wellington. One of his immediate duties was to call a meeting of presidents, vice-presidents and secretaries of all the fifteen clubs in New Zealand. This meeting 'was held in Wellington, to discuss plans for a big conference in Dunedin next March, also to place everything on a proper footing. Many tales of wonderment have been written about the extraordinary “homing” instincts of the domestic cat, and a Dunedin resident relates one that certainly shows that puss possesses a very remarkable facility of finding its way back to its human friends even after the lapse of many months. About fifteen months ago the cat was placed on board a steamer at the Bluff, but, evidently finding life on the ocean wave not ot its liking, it “deserted” the ship in Dunedin a few days afterwards. Nothing more was heard of the cat until a week ago, when to the astonishment of a local household, 'which had shifted to Dunedin from Bluff three months ago, the animal with feline casualnees wandered back and was found stretched out on its favourite rug, just deigning to bestow a few “mews” of welcome upon various members of the family.

The riverbeds in South Canterbury are now carrying little more than their normal quantity of water, but the recent floods have been responsible for radical changes in the watercourses {states the Timaru Herald). Old fords have been scoured out, and steep shingle banks make them impassable; in many places piles of boulders are to be seen where formerly deep pools existed. The Pareora river in particular bears marks of the ravages of the floods. The broad shallow stream at the Tycho Road ford has been narrowed by boulders to a third of its former* width and is correspondingly deep. Perhaps the most interesting of many interesting trees and plants in the Shakespeare gardpn at the Dunedin Gardens is the mulberry, which was planted by the celebrated Shakespearean actress, Miss Ellen Terry, says the Otago Daily Times. As she was planting it Miss Terry laughingly remarked that some day she might have a box made out of its wood. Doubtless she has long ago forgotten the remark, but Mr. D. Tannock, who was one of the party, noted it and has kept it in mind even since. The other day a fairly large branch was lopped off the historic mulberry and Mr. Tannock has now had a box made out of it to forward to Miss Terry in fulfilment of her wish expressed so many years ago. “’Wool growers must realise that to fix prices at too high a level will only encourage increased competition from the manufacturers of artificial silk, and artificial wool made out of cotton,” said Mr. Albert Spencer, at the Auckland Provincial Employers’ Association the other day. “In any case it is certain that the competition of artificial silk is now becoming a most important factor. In America there were thousands of bales of wool less used last year owing to these substitutes, which are steadily growing in importance. At the same time they will not displace wool, but, used in conjunction with it, they are already leading to a decrease in wool consumption all over the world.”

The Japanese houses built of bamboo are kept scrupulously clean, and always look cool and inviting. Everything is on the sliding principle—doors, walls and windows; sliding panels divide one room from another. A few bronze ornaments and tapestries generally comprise the furniture. The floors are covered with very fine matting; the Japanese always remove their footgear (a kind of wooden clog) before going indoors. The food is cooked via charcoal brazier, and it is not uncommon to see whole families squatting over a brazier enjoying the midday or evening meal. The Japanese are great cooks and turn out wonderful dishes. They don’t sleep in beds—they prefer matting, which is rolled away during the daytime. The bath, built in in the floor, is like an enormous tub with steps leading down. A circular seat, is placed all round. It is customary for the entire family to bath at the same time.

A disgraceful scene occurred in the final football match for the Australian Rules premiership at Sydney on September. 12 (says the Sydney Morning Herald). The competing teams were Paddington and Sydney. The field umpire, Mr. L. W. Gibb, prior to the semifinal round of games, was appointed to act as field umpire in the full set of semi-final and final matches for the League premiership. In the last few minutes of play a player struck Mr. Gibb with sufficient force to knock him prostrate. As Mr. Gibb lav on the ground surrounded by the players a speedy rush to the scene" was made by Sergeant Roser and uniformed police. About 200 onlookers quickly followed, but the presence of the police prevented further unseemly conduct. About five minutes later Mr. Gibb recovered, and though in a semi-dazed condition, resumed control of the game. On reaching the dressing room Mr. Gibb collapsed and did not recover for 20 minutes. In the meantime the ambulance transport motor had reached the ground, but Mr. Gibb, who was being assisted to dress by several onlookers, refused to be taken to the hospital.

Dalgety and Co. yesterday sent six trucks of Jersey yearling heifers from Taranaki to Whakatane. The consignment included a small line of pedigrees. As the Frankleigh Park Hall is not available for Saturday Oct. 10, Mr. S. G/ Smith, M.P., will address electors there on Thursday Oct. 15.

An expression of thanks for Taranaki’s hospitality to th© Empire Press delegates has been forwarded by the New Zealand branch of the Empire Press Union, as follows:—’“The New Zealand branch of th© Empire Press Union greatly appreciates the assistance you so kindly gave towards the entertainment of the Imperial Press delegation during th© visit to Taranaki recently, and we desire to express to you our thanks. The visitors were highly delighted with the hospitality shown them, and with what they saw of your district. There is no doubt that the visit of this delegation will do much to advertise New Zealand, to its advantage.” The wild sheep on Kapiti are proving difficult if not impossible to muster, but the New Zealand Native Birds Protection Society believes the authorities are ‘bent on making this sanctuary efficient by destroying the sheep and opossums, and the caretaker is doing exoellent work in many desirable directions. The wild goats are, with the exception of 10 or 12, a thing of the past, *ome hundreds having been destroyed in the last few months.

A concession to small racing clubs in the form of a refund of totalisator duty at the discretion of the Minister for Finance was provided in the Finance Bill which was passed just before Parliament rose. The refund may be for the year beginning August 1 last, or any subsequent year, and consists of per cent, of the gross totalisator takings, but may not exceed £250 to any club in any year. The payment may be made only in cases where the Minister is satisfied that during the year of the refund the club has spent, or incurred liability to expend, an amount not less than the amount of the refund in the provision of buildings or other permanent improvements to its course.

Speaking recently of the expansion of the Empire overseas, the Archbishop of York said that nowadays apparently everybody, of all classes, had to be satisfied that there was “safety” for them before they crossed the sea. They had to be assured of everything—work, income, and the rest—and until they were satisfied of “safety first” they would not venture. If that had been the spirit of English and Yorkshire people from the 16th century there would have been no Empire and no Dominions. Many of their best and most promising boys, with wits and character enough to carry them, almost anywhere, were tumbling over one another to try to get the “’soft jobs.” The reason w’as that they had got so spoilt by modern standards of comfort in all classes of the community that men would not embark on a hazardous career unless assured of an income which made it easy to live. ‘‘Safety first” was a poor sign of the time, and he would rather have “service first,” even if it did not bring in a great deal of money.

In connection with the ingleside to be held in th© Workers’ Social Hall by the Hawera Scottish Society on Monday evening next, an. orchestra from Hawera will play for the modern dances. The music for the Scottish dances will be furnished by th© Scottish national musical instrument, the bagpipes. These are excellent to dance to, and the lads who went to the war uphold the contention that the bagpipe is the best musical instrument to march to. Dancers should be well catered for at the ingleside. The concert and dance advertised by the Hawera Scottish Society to take place at Stratford on Monday, October 12, should read Monday, October 19. Hamilton will automatically rank as a city next year by reason of the fact that the town, as from March 3tl, 19i26, will be the seat of the bishopric for the new diocese of Waikato and Taranaki.

Altogether 24 people besides the two who died were injured in the Te Aute bank railway smash, according to figures based on those treated privately and in various hospitals, states a Napier exchange. ‘‘’Can you tell me why it is the price of beef is so high?” asked a housewife of a butcher a few days ago (says the Thames Star). “Yes,” was the reply, “owing to the scarcity of cattle.” “Is that it? And when is the price likely to come down ?” she asked. “About two years after th© farmers cease knocking the calves on the head. Next please,” said th© butcher, and the housewife 'walked out of the shop very little wiser than when she entered.

“It was quite interesting to note at Montreal that 30,000 New Zealand cheeses were in cool store on the harbour front, these being the residue of 100,000 cheeses that were landed,” states Mr. J. R. Marks, district engineer of the Public Works Department, who has just returned from a visit to America. “As New Zealanders we were gratified to learn that our produce is so largely received in a country that is in such close competition with New Zealand for dairying. Canada, it is said, exports to Great Britain about ninety per cent, of what New Zealand exports.”

The shipping strike, which is holding up the Home boats at New Zealand ports, is likely to have disastrous effects on some of th© factories that have not so far sold their season’s output of cheese (states the Clutha Free Press). A well-known district factory is said to be in that position, having held out for a record price, with the idea of paying 2s per lb for butter-fat to suppliers. Now, if the product is not shipped in time, it is apt to be awkward. Thus it is that a- strike lightly entered upon by a few malcontents, has far-reaching effects on other industries that some might think were not co-related in any way.

Smart new neglige shirts with reinforced bosom and detachable collar to match are showing at. the Melbourne, at attractive prices. Also cream gaberdine tennis and cricket troulfers, 16/6 to 35/-; grey flannel trousers, 17/6 and 19/6; odd sports coats, 27/6; splendid quality silk finish Beatrice twill tennis shirts, 9/6. The clearing sale advertised by the Ltd.,” provides a splendid opportunity for the thrifty to fit out the family in footwear at a big saving. Numerous striking bargains- are offered in men’s women’s and children’s footwear at prices that must effect a speedy clearance, and it is with this object in view that the sale is being promoted in order to make room for large deliveries arriving.—New Zealand Clothing Factory, New Plymouth.

Visitors to New Plymouth, especially ladies, often remark how cheap drapery is to buy here compared with other places, and quite large parcels are bought locally and despatched to different parts of New Zealand. The main reason for this appears to be the verv low prices charged by C. C. Ward, Lt a., also the extensive variety of beautiful goods displayed by this cash drapery firm. New goods are now on show. The values are really wonderful.